If my husband has said it once, he’s said it a thousand times in the two years we’ve been pastoring here: “Christians need to read their Bible everyday.” As most of you know, I have a two 1/2 year old and a 10 month old, and I get very little sleep or time to myself right now. (One of these days, I’m going to visit my library – alone!) I may not get to do any scrapbooking, shopping or reading, but I do however, fight for my daily Bible time. I try to get up around 5:30 or 6 so I can beat my children up and have my quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes, I get breakfast late for the kids because the Bible is important to me. I once heard a preacher (maybe it was my brother! I can’t remember.) say that we won’t do that which we do not plan to do. I change the sheets every Friday. I buy groceries on Mondays usually, I make lesson plans for school…why wouldn’t I plan on meeting with the Lord? I plan everything else. Oh, sure, there are lots of days when I am reading my Bible at 11:59pm because the day has been so terribly hectic -illness, accidents, and the like can interfere with our best made plans. But still, I do the best I can.
When I get up and head to “my spot”, I always find Him waiting there for me, like a good friend does when you plan to meet somewhere. He listens to me thank Him, and then gripe, and then thank Him, then gripe, well you get the picture. Then, He speaks back to me from His Word.
I was struggling with a problem recently and I would like to put the blame on someone else. But, through my Proverbs reading for the day, He showed me that, yep, it’s my fault. He had to scold me. Boy I felt bad about it. I said “Yes, Lord, I see what You mean. I’m sorry.” Then, I went over and read a little from the NT – and He encouraged me. My reading for that day was Phil. 3:13-14 …”but this one thing I do. forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Coincidence? No. I know He was telling me “You messed up, again, Valerie. But I forgive you, now get up and go forward.” Isn’t He good to us? He saves us and keeps us saved forever! That’s eternity!! Then, He gives us His word, His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, He gives us friends, and He promises that He will always be there for us. When we are grieving, He’s there. He has a great shoulder to cry on, by the way. I’ve used it often. My family and friends cannot possibly fathom some of the sorrow that I have faced, but He can. My Mom cannot fix all my problems, but He can! My husband could not fully understand my grief when I lost my Dad, but He did! He has stood right beside me through everything, and His word has guided me.
The Bible tells me:
How to be a good wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend
How to pray
How to think
How to talk
How to love others
What to do when people revile me, persecute me and speak all manner of evil against me.
How to share the gospel
How to be a good guest
How handle my money
How to do things in my daily life (decently and in order)
What to do when I’m afraid, and just Whom I should fear.
What to do when I’m heartbroken
How to raise my children
How to love my husband
How to deal with angry people, foolish people, wise people, scornful people, critical people
What to do when I’ve been betrayed
How to dress
How to serve
How to eat
How to be a good employee….

AND THE LIST COULD GO ON FOREVER!

The Bible has the answer for all of life’s situations. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the Bible! Thank you for being faithful to me even when I’m so unfaithful to You!